What I hope the most is that, whatever happens (hopefully freedom, which should be almost obious now! globalisation creates "freedom", a kind of...) they'll keep there beautiful culture: lifestyle and arts, and that they will not loose that because of money mentality... they have such a great music, literature, arts, architecture... lets whish that for them, the best! And let's hope that the good things Castro did, yes there are some! will also stay, and that the rest will vanish forever giving a great exemple for the rest of the world! Still a lot of work to do!

Forgive me for I don't understand your comments. Are the Americans free because they can travel anywhere? Or any other person, not Cuban?

Excuse me, I don't share your opinions. I am not in favour of the restrictions in my country but I don't see what democracy there is in the States for example. A President who cheated in the elections and has been missruling the country, taking it to the economic recession, attacking other countries over "some ghost nuclear weapons" (not over oil and power)? or interfering in other countries in the name of democracy? or even more now, "bugging" the communication system to know what the citizens talk.

On the contrary, Cuba has been helping other countries, not killing their people . Just check the news please, find how many countries Cuba has sent doctors, teachers, coaches, etc and then compare to how many soldiers the United States have sent to death for no reason. (this is not a personal attack to the US. just an example)

I don't see chains around me. Just because I need an invitation letter to travel, it does not mean that I am not free. Let's see, in Cuba children can play anywhere without their parents worrying to have them kidnapped, people can walk any time of the day or night without fear of an assault or anything else. Education and health care is free!!! oh, I think the list will be endless but I will bore you, so I won't continue.

Improvements, of course we need them, in the economy most of all. We need to open to investment and modify many things in our economic system and that is the change we need. Other changes, yes, we need them too but we do not want the "help" of the United States to change things. Stay in their own country and stop "helping" other countries in the name of democracy. I absolutely hope that Obama wins the elections and CHANGE can happen for them. BUT since a black man is not supposed to get to power (and if he does, then he's murdered), I don't see that CHANGE happening for them. Yes, democracy, absolutely...

And Mathias: thanks for your words...I totally agree that there's still a lot of work to do.

On the contrary, Cuba has been helping other countries, not killing their people . Just check the news please, find how many countries Cuba has sent doctors, teachers, coaches, etc )

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I bear witness to this, In Venezuela there are now many Cuban doctors providing basic medical assistance in places where no other doctors would dare to go. But is also true Sandy that some of those doctors are now searching their way out (specially to Colombia - our neighbor country) in order to ask for asylum in the American embassy at Bogota. It makes me wonder their reasons for doing so, and why can’t they just choose freely where they want to live. I also must confess that it saddens me to realize that now these Cuban doctors see my country as another prison they need to escape from. All in all, I want you to know that I have the greatest respect for your point of view, and even feel privileged to have through this forum the opportunity to receive so many insights and ideas from people that have som much to share. Thank you my friend and thank you all !!!!

YOu are so right my friend Hebe. They and many others have left and are leaving the country but I can assure you that they are not looking for democracy or freedom. They just want a better life and that means changes in the economy of the country. I will not expose all the difficulties that Cubans go through because it is not necessary, everyone knows them but I strongly believe that we can be happier with some major changes in economy and some others that is not to me to decide or the people abroad who don't live here.
Many years ago, the people who left the country thought differently, they had political reasons but this generation is looking for a better life in terms of economy. I would even say they do not care about politics or whoever rules the country as long as the good achievements be kept and the rest be changed, and the basics is just the economy!!
I can't believe myself!! I hate and have always hated politics!

SandraT, first of all I never ment to offend you... you sound really upset and I don't understand why because I never attacked you or your country. When I said "the right to CHOOSE, to stay or to leave the country" I never wanted to say you were inprisoned... And I never said the United States was an example of anything... you mentioned the States.

I still wish you the best of lucks to you and your country...
Best regards,

Mercy, please don't take it personal. I felt upset, yes, because many people talk about democracy and freedom in Cuba and they have no idea of what they are talking about. You have to live here to know the truth.

The example of the States was my own example. This is because they (the officials, not the people) have been promoting many ways to set the Cubans free and that is one thing that bothers me. War, intervention, etc. in a way for many years they have been in war against us and one of the examples is the Embargo law. Do anyone here knows that Cuba is not allowed to buy medicines for children with cancer in the States? Do anyone here knows that we are not allowed to do any kind of transaction in USD and because of this the country suffers great losses of money every day? that they can't sell equipment that we need in the hospitals or any other? so, this is part of the embargo law. This is why I get upset when I hear people saying free Cuba or something and the greatest part of it all has been promoted by the States itself.
Your opinions were just other opinions among many others than just like you don't know the whole reality of my country. But above all that, you having different opinions, we are all colleagues and as I said before, I hate politics and we are here not to change the world but to exchange and learn from each other. If anyone felt insulted, please, forgive me; I was just mentioning some facts.

Are the Americans free because they can travel anywhere? Or any other person, not Cuban?

Yes, they are. but travelling is not the most important thing in the world. But saying or at least thinking (!) what you wish is in my opinion.

If you don't feel imprisoned and abused, good for you. Many of your community members do. In Spain only some days ago four dissidents arrived who spent years in prison for thinking what they shouldn't and for opposing the government.